HHS report: Hospital-acquired conditions decreasing

A recent report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) indicates that an estimated 87,000 fewer patients died in hospitals and nearly $20 billion in healthcare costs were saved as a result of a reduction in hospital-acquired conditions from 2010 to 2014.

Hospital patients experienced 2.1 million fewer hospital-acquired conditions from 2010 to 2014, a 17% decline over that period. HHS previously reported in December 2014 that 50,000 fewer patients died in hospitals and $12 billion in healthcare costs were saved between 2010 and 2013.

HHS notes that although the precise causes of the decline in patient harm are not fully understood, the increase in safety has occurred during a period of concerted attention by hospitals throughout the country to reduce adverse events. The report, is available online at http://tinyurl.com/jh9gg6z.